JP2004511023A - A rotating camera for obtaining digital images - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention captures photographic images from film using a digital camera and encodes the image information into digital data to facilitate the printing of edited and finished photographs. This device controls the film transport means, the optical stage, sensors for detecting identification marks and positions on individual frames of the film, digital cameras and devices, manipulates images, and edits data. Computer system. A feature of the present invention is a rotating digital camera that is movable with respect to the optical stage of the apparatus. The camera is positioned under computer control in the Y, Z, and rotation (R) axes relative to the image on the film. This allows for extensive editing work to be performed in connection with the storage of digital images captured and generated by the device.

Description

[0001]
The present invention relates to an apparatus for capturing digital images from photographic negative images, and more particularly to an apparatus for selectively positioning a photographic image capture device with respect to a continuous roll of photographic negative images.
[0002]
Conventional chemical photographic image processing has evolved from manual operation to semi-automatic, and recently to fully automatic operation. In addition, high quality digital photographic image processing devices have further become the mainstream in the process of editing photographic images and making prints from negative images. These have the advantage of substantially reducing costs.
[0003]
Traditional photographic image processing operations commonly performed in high volume photographic laboratories are known to join together multiple developed film rolls to form a continuous strip of photographic negative images. Each strip contains hundreds of images. Maintaining a track of these images and editing them in a high production environment is a complex task. Each photographic image must be identified by a discrete code or number. This code can be associated not only with color correction, color balance, cropping, and direction information, but also with identification data about the image, such as the photographer's name, address, photographer's job number, and photographer's job frame number. . Only by associating all of this information with a discrete identification number can the photographic prints generated from the photographic negative images be reliably and accurately manufactured and delivered to photographic laboratories, customers and photographers.
[0004]
Automatically detects the edges of individual photo frames on a long roll of developed negative film and marks each frame (usually its edge), often with perforated holes or cutouts to mark each frame. Photographic film processing machines for identification are well known. It is also possible to use such a marked film in a photo editing / printing device to operate a fixed imaging device, for example, a digital video imaging device such as a magnifying device, a lamp house, or a CCD digital video camera. It is well known.
[0005]
Traditionally, such video imagers have been fixed relative to the path of the long roll of film, correcting for image tilt, selecting the optical axis of the image between landscape and portrait formats, This is performed by selectively moving a carrier carrying a negative film. Such a technique is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,292. The focus of the video imager on the negative image on the film is also fixed, preventing possible defocus correction.
[0006]
It is also known to use digital cameras to transmit photographic images in digital format to customers or computer databases. An example of such a device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,929,342 (Umeda). Video imaging devices, however, are believed to be unable to perform customized rotational movements with respect to the scan plane of the image in the prior art.
[0007]
The present invention combines long roll film transport, edge detection and perforation with the rotation of a digital imaging device.
[0008]
Furthermore, by automating the handling process of a long roll film using the present invention, it becomes possible to increase the productivity in a photo laboratory. The image capture encoding device described below detects frame numbers, punctures frame numbers, and obtains full-frame, high-quality digital images from a wide range of film formats. The use, formatting, editing, and image resizing of the rotating camera assembly is accomplished through appropriate electrical connections between the image capture encoding device and the digital computer and software control via instructions. The apparatus combines processing steps that were previously performed at separate locations into a single work station.
[0009]
A frame edge sensing element detects the edge of the frame and identifies the optical axis of each individual frame. In one embodiment, a drilling punch element places a standard binary drilling pattern on each frame.
[0010]
A digital CCD camera incorporating a three color (RGB) light source is movably mounted to the film. Use of appropriate digitally controlled motors, camera distance from film, camera Y-axis positioning with respect to film centerline, camera rotation and focusing are all controlled using a conventional operating system and a computer running special software And it proofreads part of the present invention.
[0011]
Embodiments of the present invention are capable of individually identifying frames from a suitably perforated film and reading bar codes encoded on the film. Related software according to the present invention allows for full range editing, including photo composition, color balance, orientation, magnification, refocusing, tilting, and correction. With free software available to both the laboratory and the photographer, editing and printing instructions are free to transfer data between the photographer, photo lab and customers using transportable media or computer networks. Replaceable.
[0012]
The operation of the present invention refers to the entire process of determining the environment in which the hardware and software function, then analyzes the various hardware elements and their interconnections, and analyzes the hardware elements of the present invention in detail. By doing so, you will be better understood.
[0013]
2 and 3 show flowcharts of the operation. Image capture encoding device 10 (as shown in FIG. 1) is formed by splicing a long roll of film, typically a plurality of rolls of film exposed by a photographer during a normal photographic job. You. For example, a long roll film may include multiple jobs by the same photographer. Also, even in rare cases, it may include a plurality of roll films from a plurality of photographers. The roll films are spliced together using well-known techniques, and a continuous strip film, often containing hundreds of independent exposures, is provided to the image capture encoding device 10.
[0014]
The next step in the film image capture process is to accurately detect the leading or trailing edge of each individual frame found on the film. Typically, this process is performed using an array of optical sensors positioned against the film and comparing information about the optical density of the film with known standards in detail. Such known techniques make it possible to reliably detect at least one edge of the exposure that constitutes a negative image on developed photographic film.
[0015]
When the edges of the image are detected, each of the series of photographic images is placed in the vicinity of an image capture device, such as a solid-state video camera, by a suitable device that is pre-configured with information about the exact dimensions of each exposure on the film. The center can be accurately positioned. Simultaneously with the positioning of the film, the film is usually illuminated from the opposite side of the video camera to project a negative image onto the video camera. As will be described in more detail, this produces one or more digital images corresponding to the negative images. This digital image is stored in a predetermined format and used later.
[0016]
Simultaneously with the capture of the image, the edge of the film is perforated near each negative image. Thereby, even when digitizing or printing on photographic paper, a perforation is made near the film edge which does not interfere with the appearance of the photographic image, and an identification mark is permanently applied to each frame of the photographic film.
[0017]
The next step in the process is the creation of a database of digital images. This database is organized and stored in digital files and transported to the photographer and / or photographer's customer. Typically, at this point, the image is simply a "proof" image that has simply been scanned, captured, identified by the appropriate code, subjected to preliminary editing, and placed in a digital file. The preliminary editing is performed using image viewing software, and may include color correction, position and direction correction, and the like.
[0018]
The purpose of all the steps described above is to create a digital proofreading image collection that can be viewed and edited for the photo laboratory and the original photographer. This digital proof image is transmitted to the photographer or its customer by a laboratory by using an inexpensive transportable medium such as a CD-ROM or by transmitting data using a network such as the Internet. You. When the photographer views the calibration image, either independently or at the request of the customer, the customer typically selects one or more images for the final product. The photographer specifies various parameters for each image to be printed to the laboratory. Examples of parameters include image orientation (for example, landscape and portrait), color balance, centering, cropping, magnification, print size, color correction, and the like. In addition, the photographer will instruct the laboratory to remove defects, change skin tones, remove unwanted reflections, and modify photos to add images and matting.
[0019]
Once such editing is determined, the process proceeds according to the flowchart shown in FIG. The editorial information database provided by the photographer and corresponding to the database created in the first imaging step provides valid editorial information for a given roll film to the photo laboratory. Upon receiving this information, the pre-scanned and perforated film is again envisioned by the image capture and editing device and undergoes further processing. At this stage of the process, each of the images selected by the photographer to print is identified by an edge code and transported by the device to its optical stage. When re-capturing an image for a product, the editing information provided by the photographer is used to adjust the magnification, focus, direction, tilt, cropping, and color balance of the image.
[0020]
The photographic image is then produced directly from the edited digital image by digital output. Alternatively, the components of a conventional photographic printer may be driven using the editing information generated during the recapture process to provide a photographic image to the photographic printer so that when exposing photographic paper, the orientation, cropping, color Balance and other parameters may be made accurate.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows main components of the image capturing and editing apparatus. The main components are a film encoding station 12, a computer 14, a computer keyboard 16, a computer monitor 18, a second computer input device 20, ie, a mouse in one embodiment, and a trackball, Digital tablet. The film encoding station 12 and its associated internal electronic components are connected to the computer 14 by a cable 22 or an infrared port. Computer 14 is then connected to computer network 24 using well-known data processing network equipment and techniques.
[0022]
Computer 14, keyboard 16, and input device 20 are preferably personal computers of the stand-alone desktop computer type manufactured by IBM ™, Hewlett Packard ™, Dell ™, Compaq ™, and other manufacturers. A component of a computer. Typically, these components are a central processing unit, a random access memory capable of accommodating files of relatively large size for capturing digital images, one or more of the previously described relatively large numbers of files capable of storing a large number of files. A hard disk drive, a disk drive that can read and write to a removable storage medium such as a zip (trademark) or a rewritable CD-ROM, or a removable hard disk drive is provided. The computer monitor 18 is typically selected from color computer monitors that generate a wide range of color information and can accurately reproduce photographic images in various formats, such as RGB, CMYK grayscale formats. The computer 14 and its associated components function as an interface between the film encoding station 12 and the operator, and further display both edited and unedited images, a collection of images, and data associated with each image. The computer 14 further functions as an entrance for transmitting photographic image data to another output device via the network 24.
[0023]
The film encoding station 12 includes a base plate 36, a front tool plate 38, a rear tool plate 40 (not shown in this drawing), a housing assembly 28, and a front cover 33, all of which are included in the film encoding station. Supports and surrounds twelve major components. The camera 15, the delivery spool 80, the take-up spool 82, the feed roller device 84, the take-up roller device 86, the drive roller 88, the sensor 90, the film punching device 92, and the lamp accommodating device 94 are provided on the base plate 36 and the tool plates 38 and 40. Is installed. The housing 28 contains various components of the electrical and pneumatic devices for driving and controlling the film encoding station 12.
[0024]
Referring to FIG. 4, the main components of the film encoding station 12 will be described in more detail. The components of the film encoding station 12 are mounted on a framework that provides a secure platform for mounting the various components. The film optics stage and camera must be very tightly fixed to ensure high reproducibility and high accuracy of the photographic images. The various components of the film encoding station framework are surrounded by a housing assembly 28 consisting of housing sidewall elements 30, 32, a base plate 36, a front tool plate 38, and a rear tool plate 40. The housing element, when assembled, surrounds and protects the most sensitive components of the station, supports the working elements, and further protects the operator from moving elements and high voltage hazards in such devices. A plurality of foot elements 41 clamp the base plate 36 from below.
[0025]
The front tool plate 38 and the rear tool plate 40 include various spool shafts, roller shafts, and Y, Z axis moving blocks, motors, punches, edge detectors, light sources, film holders, and punch debris receivers. It becomes a support part for. Tool plates 38, 40 also provide support for the Y-axis mounting spacer and cropping template mounting block 221. Attach a cooling exhaust fan to the housing and ventilate the inside of the housing.
[0026]
FIG. 4 further shows a tool plate in relation to the lamp house top 54 and the lamp house side walls 59, 56. An LED circuit board bracket 61 provides support for the main light source LEDs. In a preferred embodiment, the front tool plate 38, the rear tool plate 40, the housing side walls 30, 32, the base plate 36, and the lamphouse elements are secured to one another using conventional fasteners, such as screws 100, of the components to be mounted. The necessary physical support is formed. The front tool plate 38 and the rear tool plate 40 are further interconnected by screws 100 and separated by standoffs 52. These components form the necessary physical structure of the camera, the film drive and the device for supporting the lamp house.
[0027]
As illustrated in detail in FIG. 5, the front tool plate 38 and the rear tool plate 40 partially support the lamp house top 54, the left lamp house side wall 59, and the right lamp house side wall 56 when secured to each other. To form an assembly. The periphery of the front tool plate 38 also provides a mounting, support surface for the right side wall 32 and left side wall 30 of the housing. The front and rear tool plates 38, 40 also provide support for the delivery spool shaft. The delivery spool shaft 81 is driven by an intelligent tension motor 102, which is connected to the delivery spool shaft 81 by a coupling 104. The intelligent tension motor 102 is attached to the rear tool plate 40 by a plurality of spacers 106, washers 101, and fasteners 100. The delivery spool shaft 81 is further supported by a plurality of bearings 108 which rotatably mount the delivery spool shaft 81 with low friction on the front and rear tool plates 38, 40. The delivery spool shaft 81 further includes a collar 111, a washer 101, a spacer 110, and a fixing flange 112. These elements position and fix the film delivery spool. A floating roller 116 supported by a floating roller shaft 118 is attached to the delivery spool shaft 81. The floating roller shaft is supported by the front and rear tool plates 38 and 40 by a bearing 108 and a snap ring 114. Adjacent to the idler roller, one or more particle transport rollers 120 are mounted on the particle transport roller shaft 122 using bearings 108. The surface of the particle transport roller 120 has low tackiness, so that dust and other particles on the film adhere to the surface of the particle transport roller 120. The particle transfer roller 120 can be cleaned and reused when it starts to become dirty or particles adhere. The particle transport roller 120 is attached to the front and rear tool plates 38, 40 using conventional fasteners 100, washers 101, and snap rings 114. Adjacent to the particle transport roller 120, a feed guide roller 124 is rotatably mounted on a guide roller shaft 126. The guide roller shaft 126 is attached to the front and rear tool plates 38, 40 by one or more bearings 108 and snap rings 114. The guide roller 124 can adjust the width between the plurality of guide portions 125 of the guide roller 124 in a predetermined increment so as to receive films of various widths. Film tension is maintained by film tension rollers 130 mounted on bearings 108, which are mounted on tension roller shafts 132. A tension roller shaft 132 is attached to the distal end of the baler arm 134. The proximal end 136 of the baler arm 134 is attached to a baler arm pivot 138, which is attached to a bearing 108 attached to the front and rear tool plates 38,40. The baler arm rotation shaft 138 protrudes through the rear tool plate 40, on which a spring 190, a holding collar 140, a switch vane collar 142, and a second holding collar 144 are arranged. Switch vane collar 142 provides position information for intelligent tension motor 102 to ensure that proper tension is maintained in the film passing through the system.
[0028]
A key component of the film optics stage is the lamp house top 54, and the film is transported across the lamp house top 54 during the sensing, imaging, and perforating steps. With the various guides and tension rollers described above, the film is positioned longitudinally or in the X-axis direction with respect to the camera 15. The camera is mounted with respect to front and rear tool plates 38, 40 to ensure that the film is exposed, as will be described in detail below. The film is irradiated by a lamp house mixer 50 fixed to a lamp house mounting bracket 51, and the lamp house mounting bracket is mounted on the front tool plate 38 by a fastener 100. The lamp house mounting bracket also provides support for the power resistor 150 attached to the lamp house mounting bracket 151, and the lamp house mounting bracket also provides a heat sink for the power register. .
[0029]
After passing through the lamp house top 54, the film is sent to a guide roller 160 mounted on a guide roller shaft 162. The guide roller shaft is attached to the front and rear tool plates 38, 40 using bearings 108 and snap rings 114. Between the guide rollers 160, 164, there is even arranged a first drive roller 170, which is mounted on a drive roller shaft 172. The drive roller shaft 172 is mounted on the bearing 108 and protrudes through the rear tool plate 40, where a drive pulley 174 for advancing the film is provided. The film is then fed to a suitable idler roller 176 mounted on an idler roller shaft 178, which is mounted to front and rear tool plates 38, 40 by bearings 108 and snap rings 114. The film is then fed to a take-up, tension roller 180 attached to a take-up, tension roller shaft 182, where the take-up, tension roller shaft 182 is attached to the distal end of the baler arm 194. The proximal end 183 of the baler arm 184 is secured to a bearing 108 and a baler arm pivot 186 mounted on the front and rear tool plates 38,40. A tension spring 190, a collar 140, a switch vane collar 142, and a second holding collar 144 are provided on the baler arm rotation shaft 186. The switch vane collar 142, as well as the corresponding components of the delivery tension roller of the present invention, sends a position signal to the system electronics to maintain the proper tension on the film. The take-up spool is attached to a take-up spool shaft 202 attached to the front and rear tool plates 38, 40. An intelligent tension motor 206 is coupled to one end of the take-up spool shaft 202 via a coupling 204, which is attached to the rear tool plate by suitable standoffs 110 and fasteners 100.
[0030]
A cooling fan 42 is provided on at least one side wall of the housing, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, on the left side wall of the housing, and a fan guard 43 and a cover 44 are provided on the cooling fan. . A punch chip receiver 210 for receiving punch chips generated by a film punch (not shown) is attached to the front tool plate 38. Punch debris receiver 210 is mounted to front tool plate 38 by punch debris receiver bracket 212 and appropriate fasteners 100. The punch waste receiver 210 is provided with an inlet 214 and an outlet 216 for sucking punch waste into the punch waste receiver and connecting to a vacuum source.
[0031]
The operation of the video camera assembly will be easily understood by referring to FIGS. The video camera 15 includes a focus lens 58, which is a multi-layer lens that provides the video camera with the desired optical properties and a wide range of color image resolution. The camera 15 is attached to a Y-axis moving block 220 via a camera ring 222. The moving block 220 is also attached to the lens ring 224 using a suitable fastener 100. The Y-axis moving block 220 is provided with a camera rotation ring 226. The rotating ring 226, preferably in the form of a bearing or bushing, allows the camera to freely rotate within the Y-axis moving block 220. The rotating pulley 223 and the belt 233 are rotated by the motor 229 to rotate the camera 15 in the Y-axis block 220. The sensor rotation signal of the camera is provided to the sensor 235 by the sensor flag 237. The camera is further secured to the Y-axis moving block 220 by a camera retaining ring 228 using fasteners. The Y-axis moving block 220 is attached to the pair of Y-axis moving shafts 230 through the through-bore of the moving block. A low-friction bushing 234 is press-fit into bore 232 of moving block 220 and a retainer 239 is provided in the low-friction bushing so that moving block 220 can slide with low friction with respect to moving shaft 230. ing. The lens 58 is provided with a pulley adapter 236 adapted to engage with a pulley belt 238. The movement of the moving block in the Y-axis direction is performed by the linear actuator 240. The selective positioning of the Y-axis moving block 220 is accomplished by transmitting appropriate signals corresponding to the exact position of the linear actuator 240 and, thus, the exact position of the Y-axis moving block 220 with respect to the optical stage of the apparatus. With further reference to FIG. 6, a Z-axis movement block 244 receives one end of a Y-axis movement shaft 230. The Z-axis moving block 244 is provided with a Z-axis moving shaft 248 having a bearing 252 and a retainer 239 and a through bore 246 for receiving the Z-axis feed screw 250. The bearings and retainers provide a relatively friction-free surface surrounding the Z-axis moving shaft 248 and allow for smooth vertical movement of the Z-axis moving block and components attached thereto. The upper and lower ends of the Z-axis moving shaft 248 and the Z-axis feed screw 250 are fixed to the upper shaft block 260 and the lower shaft block 262 using bearings 108, and the upper and lower shaft blocks are fixed to the rear tool plate. A floating nut assembly 264 is disposed in the recess 266 of the Z-axis moving block 262 and engages with the thread of the Z-axis feed screw 250. As the Z-axis lead screw 250 rotates, the Z-axis movement block 244 moves up and down, thereby repositioning the camera 15 with respect to the film mounted on the image capture encoding device. The upper end of the lead screw 250 penetrates the upper shaft block bearing 268 and engages the flex joint 270 and the stepper motor 272. The stepping motor 272 is attached by the standoff 247 and the fastener 100 and drives the feed screw 250 to rotate. A sensor flag 241 provides a reference position for a sensor (not shown) and provides position information for the moving block.
[0032]
The lens 58 is fixed to the lens focus motor mount 280. A lens focus drive motor 281, a focus motor mount plate 283, and a plurality of standoffs 285 are attached to the lens focus motor mount 280 by conventional fasteners 100 and associated nuts, lock washers and washers. A lens pulley adapter 236 is attached to the lens assembly 58, and a lens focus sensor flag 287 is attached to the lens pulley adapter. The lens pulley driving device 284 drives the lens pulley 238, and then drives the lens pulley adapter 236, thereby changing the focal length. Lens 58 is properly spaced from camera 15 by spacer 282. Sensor 286 is attached to spacer block 288 by conventional fasteners.
[0033]
As will be appreciated from the above description, a vertical (Z-axis), horizontal (Y-axis), and rotational (R-axis) operation is performed by a camera assembly that changes focus with respect to the plane of the negative image transferred into the device. The moving block, the shaft, the lens, the rotating ring, and various components that constitute the component have been described. The operation of each of the axes can be performed by computer control or manually, depending on the preference of the operator.
[0034]
The configuration and operation of the lamp house will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9D. The lamp house includes a top 54, a right side wall 56, and a left side wall 59. A negative glass 48 and a diffusion glass 49 are fixed to the top plate 54, and a film guide assembly 57 is fixed to the top plate 54 by an appropriate fastener. An anti-curl roll is attached to the film guide assembly 57 to stabilize the edge of the film as it is transported across the lamphouse top 54. An LED light source printed circuit board 62 is mounted directly below a mixing chamber (not shown) by a plurality of guides 73 fixed to the bracket 61. The LED light source printing circuit 62 includes red, green and blue light emitting diodes, each group (R, G, B) being individually computer controlled for the exact exposure time. Each group of LEDs is selectively operable to activate all or a portion of the array of light emitting diodes as desired.
[0035]
To assist in dissipating the heat generated in the lamp house, the lamp house has a lamp house fan 14 secured to the right side wall 56 of the lamp house by suitable fasteners 100 and a lamp house guide 66, A filter 68 and a fan cover 70 are provided.
[0036]
Since the device relies on a pneumatic power source to hold the film and operate the perforation device, a pneumatic source and distribution device is required, as shown in FIG. The vacuum source may be a selectively activatable Venturi vacuum pump 200. A high pressure air inlet 302 is attached to the housing 28 or the base plate 36 and is physically fixed. Typically, the air inlet is provided with a quick coupling nipple 301 that can be easily connected to and separated from a high pressure air source. The inside entrance is connected by a suitable pneumatic line 303 to an on-off valve 304 which opens and closes in response to the main system power to the station being turned on and off. The valve supplies high pressure air to air regulator 306. The air regulator includes an outlet pressure indicator 308, as well as a regulator that provides high pressure air at a known pressure to other components of the pneumatic system. The high pressure air of the regulator is then supplied to a T-joint 310 that supplies conditioned high pressure air to the pneumatic manifold 314 as well as to the valve assembly 312.
[0037]
In addition, an understanding of the vacuum system comprising the vacuum pump 200, the vacuum controller 316 and the associated conduit 318 allows a better understanding of the system. A vacuum pump provides a source of vacuum to the punch debris receiver 210. The punch assembly 332 communicates with the manifold 314 through the punch waste pressure line 320, and the punch waste is transferred to the punch waste receiver 210 via the punch waste discharge line 322.
[0038]
On the pressure side of the pneumatic system, high pressure air is supplied to a valve assembly 312 consisting of ten pneumatic valves. The position of each of the ten pneumatic valves is determined by electrical signals from computer 14. The outlet 313 of each valve of the valve assembly is connected to the punch assembly 332 by a line group 330. Thereby, each punch element of the punch assembly 332 is positioned in a predetermined order. Typically, the order of this punch system is a 10-bit binary code, which allows 2 to the 10th power of coding. When the valve assembly 312 sends an appropriate pneumatic signal to the punch assembly 332, an appropriate signal is sent to the valve 334 of the punch assembly to provide punch assembly pneumatic pressure to the punch assembly 332, thereby providing the punch assembly 332. The selected punch element is extruded through the edge of the film. The pneumatic manifold 314 also provides a selective signal to the film holding cylinder 340 to actuate a film holding element (not shown) to transfer the film during lamp capture and encoding to the lamp house top 54. And hold against the negative glass 48. The front tool plate 38, the rear tool plate 40 and the base plate 36 are shown in phantom in FIG. 12A relative to the main pneumatic element. In one embodiment of the present invention, valve assembly 312 is secured to rear tool plate 40. Pneumatic manifold 314 is preferably attached to base plate 36. The air inlet 302, valve 304 and regulator 306 may be mounted at any location within the housing 28, but are typically secured to the rear cover 34. The vacuum pump 200 may be mounted at any location within the housing 78 as well, but in one embodiment is secured inside the front tool plate 38. The punch assembly 332 is fixed to the front tool plate 38. The punch waste receptacle 210 is mounted at a position on the front side or outside of the front tool plate 38 where the operator can easily access and discharge the same.
[0039]
When the punch assembly 332 is activated, the mechanism biases the individual punch elements against the film surface and penetrates it. When the punch system is activated, a vacuum is applied to the punch debris receiver 210. The punch debris receiver can be easily removed from the device to discharge the debris and re-attach. The use of a vacuum facilitates separation of the debris generated by the punch into a film and biasing it into the receiver 210.
[0040]
The operation of the entire system will be described below with reference to FIGS. A long roll film is mounted on the feed spool 80. The leading end of the film is sent to the optical stage of the lamp house 50 through the idler roller 116, the tension roller 130, the particle transfer roller 120 and the guide roller 124. The film 13 then passes through a guide roller 160, a drive roller 174, a particle transfer roller 120, and a tension roller 180, and is transferred to a take-up spool 82 mounted on a take-up spool shaft 83. The film delivery spool shaft 81 and the film take-up spool shaft 83 are driven by a film drive motor and a film take-up spool motor (not shown), respectively, which move the film to a desired position with respect to the camera 15 and the lamp house 50. In the longitudinal direction or the X-axis direction. One edge of the film is positioned relative to a film punch assembly 332 located near the discharge end of the lamp house 50. A film punch chip receiver 210 is provided for receiving chips generated when perforations are formed in the film. During the initial processing of a long roll film, the edge of each frame of the film is detected by the edge sensor 90, after which a discrete punch code is provided by the punch assembly 332. This discrete punch code correlates and identifies each frame of long roll film with associated digital data that is generated and stored during the editing process.
[0041]
Certain components of the housing can be easily removed to facilitate maintenance of the various components. A plurality of quarter-turn fasteners 400 are provided on the rear cover 34, and a spring element 402 for fixing the quarter-turn fastener in a hole 406 in the peripheral portion of the rear cover 34. A washer 404 and a split ring 408 are provided on the fastener. A quarter-turn fastener 400 is similarly disposed on a fastener retainer 410 secured to the engagement hole 409 and the side walls 30, 32 of the housing. Preferably, fastener retainer 410 is secured to said side wall of the housing by rivets 412. In this way, the rear cover can be quickly removed from the station without the need for complicated tools. The rear cover 34 also has a top shroud 35. In one embodiment, the top shroud is provided with a cooling fan 402, a cooling fan guard 43, a filter 68, and a cooling fan cover 44. The lamp house 50 also includes a front cover 53, which is provided with operating switches 418 for providing power and air pressure to the device. Typically, an identification plate 420 is attached to the front cover 53 of the lamp house and displays the manufacturer name, model name, operating voltage, and other specifications of the system.
[0042]
The film is fed to the lamp house 50 at the same time that each frame of the long roll film is detected and perforated. The lamp house illuminates and an image is provided to the camera 15. This image is simultaneously displayed on the computer monitor 18 as shown in FIG. By using the visible image displayed on the computer monitor 18, the operator can provide multiple editing and positioning information. In particular, the operator may be required to obtain images due to color balance and general defects such as retinal reflex (red eye), closed eye (blink), poor color balance, skin defects and other basic defects affecting the appearance of the photographic object. Can be visually observed. At the same time, the operator can position the camera 15 in both the Y and Z axes, and rotate the camera about the optical or R axis to apply the cropping information. This allows for pre-edited images to be selectively rotated for landscape or portrait format or intermediate between landscape and portrait for artistic purposes.
[0043]
Once the image has been evaluated and pre-edited as described above, the image is stored as a digital image with its identification code, camera position and associated pre-edits. In the finished image, the editing information and the original image can be stored separately, or the image can be completely edited and stored as an edited image. The operator continues the editing process across all of the desired images on the long roll film. Each image, along with associated editing information, is stored in a database, and each database record is directly identified by a film frame code. Therefore, by using this code, the data of each image can be easily searched.
[0044]
The operation of the present invention then moves to transmitting the image and edit data to the original photographer. Typically, this transmission is made over a wide area network, such as the Internet, and the original photographer can view the pre-edited photo without proofing. The original photographer can easily review the photo at the end customer's company or transmit the digital image to the end customer for comment and order. After the original photographer has reviewed the images and obtained the order from the customer, the original photographer transmits further editing information to the laboratory along with the order information.
[0045]
At this stage, the output process is started. The original long roll film is reloaded into the image capture encoding station with the necessary edge detection and punch code reading hardware as described above, and the film is registered during the initial editing process. Is exactly duplicated during the output process. A punch code reader is incorporated in the punch assembly 332, and each frame is identified. As each frame is detected and identified, the film 13 is re-registered using the film positioning information from the first editing process, and the camera 15 is accurately positioned at the defined position during the first editing process. As in the first step, it is identified whether or not to print for each frame. Non-printed frames bypass further processing, and only frames to be printed undergo further processing. As each of the frames to be printed is transferred to the optical stage of the image capture encoding station, the original editing information provided in the first editing step is returned to the computer, along with the editing information provided by the original photographer. And provided to the image capture encoding station. This simultaneously positions the camera with respect to the focal position and the Y and R axes. Appropriate cropping information and color balance information are provided as well as detailed editing information of the photographic image. With each of the parameters thus generated and applied, the final image is captured and output directly as digital output or as parameters used to drive a conventional photographic printer, image size, cropping, color balance, masking , Matting and direction are adjusted. Having described the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image capture encoding portion of the device of the present invention, showing the interconnection of the computer and the data network.
FIG. 2
9 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an initial image capturing step.
FIG. 3
It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd editing process.
FIG. 4
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the main components of the image capture encoding station.
FIG. 5
FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the arrangement of the main components of the image capture encoding station.
FIG. 6
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a digital camera for main components of the Z-axis transfer device.
FIG. 7
FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a digital camera for main components of the Z-axis transfer device.
FIG. 8
FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a digital camera and a focus function of the camera with respect to a rotation position.
FIG. 9A
It is an exploded view of the main components of a lamp house.
FIG. 9B
It is an exploded view of the main components of a lamp house.
FIG. 9C
It is an exploded view of the main components of a lamp house.
FIG. 9D
It is an exploded view of the main components of a lamp house.
FIG. 10
FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the main housing elements of the image capture encoding station.
FIG. 11
FIG. 4 is a front view of the image capture encoding station showing film transport.
FIG.
FIG. 2 shows the main components of the pneumatic and vacuum systems and their interconnections.
FIG. 12A
FIG. 4 is a diagram of the main components of the pneumatic and vacuum systems shown in relation to the main components of the image capture encoding feature.

Claims (11)

An apparatus for capturing a series of digital images from a medium that includes a series of visible images includes a digital camera, a medium determining means, a medium illuminating means, an imaging station, and encoding the medium to form the visible image. Means for identifying each of a series of images, the improvement comprising: means for selectively positioning the digital camera under computer control; and means for storing information regarding the position of the camera as digital data. An apparatus comprising: The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning means of the digital camera further comprises positioning the digital camera with respect to a Y axis of the medium. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning means of the digital camera further comprises positioning the digital camera with respect to a Z-axis of the medium. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning means of the digital camera further comprises positioning the digital camera with respect to an R axis of the medium. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selective positioning means comprises adjusting a focus of said digital camera. In a method for capturing a series of digital images from a medium that includes a series of visible images,
Locating the medium with respect to a digital camera, capturing a digital image from the medium with the camera, encoding the medium to identify each of the visible series of images, A method wherein the improvement comprises selectively positioning the digital camera under computer control and storing information regarding the position of the camera as digital data. The method of claim 6, further comprising editing the image using the digital data. The method of claim 6, further comprising printing the image using the digital data. In a device for editing photographic images,
Means for transferring a continuous roll of said image along a longitudinal axis from a feed position to a discharge position;
An imaging station disposed between the feeding position and the discharging position;
Irradiation means arranged near the imaging station,
Means for detecting the position of each of the photographic images with respect to the continuous roll,
Means for marking the continuous roll with a discrete identification code for each of the photographic images;
Digital camera means,
Means for positioning the digital camera means with respect to the longitudinal axis;
Computer means for controlling the positioning means;
Means for displaying a positive image of the photographic image;
Input means for accepting editing information for the photographic image;
A device comprising digital storage means for storing digital data consisting of photographic image data obtained from the digital camera, data relating to the position of the digital camera, and data obtained from the input means. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising transmission means for transmitting said photographic image data to a second editing station. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising means for combining edit data from the second editing station with the photographic image data, data relating to the position of the camera, and data obtained from the input means. .

Images